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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

How many scans did you have in total during your pregnancy?

48 replies

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 09/12/2021 01:20

I've just realised I've had what amounts to almost a scan a month during my pregnancy - I'm six months pregnant with first/only baby and higher risk due to IVF and age, so had a scan at 7 weeks at the IVF clinic (confirmation scan), 11 week private Nipt test with scan, 14 week NHS dating scan, 20 week NHS anomaly one and now I just had a private 3D/4D scan at 26 weeks.

Unfortunately DS wasn't cooperating (back turned or hands or cord in front of face) so we didn't get any clear pictures - so they kindly booked me in for a free re-scan at 28 weeks. But I've since read that some doctors don't recommend any "unnecessary" (eg. non-medical/NHS) scans for safety reasons as apparently they don't know for certain what effects lots of scans could have (wish I'd read this before I booked and paid - I just thought it would just be a nice memento as the usual 2D ones are so undetailed!)

Has anyone else had a lot of scans during their pregnancy and baby was okay? Because of the higher risk, I'm likely due to have at least 2 more NHS scans (at 32 and 36 weeks to check growth), so I'm wondering whether I should cancel the 3d/4d re-scan. A part of me thinks it will be a shame to have spent the money and not have a decent photo, but obviously his wellbeing is the most important thing!

Thanks for any help/advice

OP posts:

MrsCtobe91 · 09/12/2021 09:20

Hi op. I wouldn't worry too much. With my first daughter i had 17 scans in total due to her being small (5lb4oz) although they thought she was going to be smaller. Anyway she was absolutely fine, no problems what so ever. Xx

Bells3032 · 09/12/2021 09:31

Had
7 weeks (privately)
10 weeks (NIPT test)
11 weeks (Privately)
12 weeks (privately... we found out at 7 weeks we were expecting twins and then at the NIPT test that we had lost twin 2 so got a bit freaked out)
13 weeks (NHS)
16 weeks (private)
18 weeks (with private obs)
20 weeks (NHS)
23 weeks (Private)
25 weeks (NHS whilst hospitalised)
28 weeks (NHS growth)
30 weeks (NHS due to several periods of reduced movement)
32 weeks (NHS growth scan).

I will also likely have one at 36, 37 and 38 weeks before delivering by c-section then.

Wow that's a lot

Original poster

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 09/12/2021 19:03

Thank you all so much - you've reassured me that the "extra" scan I had was unlikely to have done any harm so that's all the really matters. I was feeling a bit selfish and wished I had spoken up to tell them to stop trying when they were clearly struggling (it was at least half an hour of ultrasound in the end so more than my other ones which is also what increased my worry).

I still can't decide whether to have a re- scan or not - I might decide closer to the time on the basis that it's a "free reassurance" check if he's not moving as much that day or the day before (some days now he seems to move a lot and on others barely at all which freaks me out!).

But I won't go "just" for the picture - even though the reviews of the place were good, I'm not sure the sonographer was that great/experienced - she seemed to miss capturing nicer/clearer shots (purely based on what I could see on the screen), but it would likely be fine if all I wanted about was to quickly see him moving about again and not a decent recording/pictures.

Thanks again everyone, it's really helpful to know how many of you have had a lot more scans and everything has been fine with your babies .

OP posts:

Chely · 09/12/2021 19:23

1st had 4
2nd had 6
3rd had 5
4/5th twins had 9
6th had 5
No issues resulted from scans. Only had private scans with baby number 2 & 6 at 16wk the rest were NHS scans.

Fuuuuuckit · 09/12/2021 19:35

Dc1 - 12 weeks, then nuchal scan, then during amniocentesis, then 20w

Dc2 - 12 weeks, 20 weeks. I was then invited to help trainee sonographers (teaching hospital) so I had 2 extra - free parking, refreshments and loads of free pics.

TwittleBee · 09/12/2021 19:37

I had weekly scans from 6 weeks pregnant until I gave birth and even booked in an extra scan to get the sex revealed early (as I didn't think the sonographer would tell us before 20 weeks but he told us at out 15 week scan). I did raise it with our consultant but she dismissed my fears and reassured me.

Best of luck

Onehotmess · 09/12/2021 19:42

I’ve had1 private and 5 Nhs scans and 2 more to go due to ‘big baby’ 😩
They had to rescan both 12 and 20 weeks due to baby position!

I’m 35 weeks now. No one has mentioned it being too many scans x

loveisanopensore · 09/12/2021 19:45

Between 20 and 40 weeks I had one every 2 weeks.
No GD, healthy pregnancy, just because I'm fat. Bit of a waste of time and resources.

forallthetea · 09/12/2021 23:28

I never heard before they don't recommend many scans.

I went private with my dc part of the package you pay for is the consultant and midwife see and scan you every month from 8 weeks to 30 weeks and every 3 weeks from 30 weeks to 40 weeks.

Plus you also attend the 2 NHS scans.

Meaning a total of 11 scans with each pregnancy.

Thinking2041 · 09/12/2021 23:48

5-7 scans
By the 3rd baby my husband asked the local scanning place if he could buy some kind of group-deal!

I always had an early one.
NIPT one
Nhs 12 wks
Nhs 20wks

And then something always came up, to do with size or positioning that meant 1-3 more.

I can’t imagine having a scan at 20wks and then waiting to just meet the baby another approx 20wks later!

Thinking2041 · 09/12/2021 23:48

In many other countries they have a scan a month.

womaninatightspot · 09/12/2021 23:52

I had MCDA twins so scans at 9 weeks, 12 weeks then every fortnight until they were born at 36 weeks. Absolutely fine.

Original poster

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 10/12/2021 01:11

Thanks again everyone . Wow, it's amazing how much women's experiences vary - from those who just had the 12 and 20 week scans to those who had them about monthly, and then those who had to have them weekly for medical reasons - at least I'm feeling a bit more average now about the number I've had so far!

I probably shouldn't have searched/read those articles - so much about pregnancy seems to be "well we don't think it will hurt, but we can't know for sure" - including some of the medication I'm on for health reasons, so I should have guessed non-medical scans would be the same!

But I'm such a worrier, so the gap between my 20 week scan and my 32 week one felt really long, that I gave in to my curiosity to have one halfway through (and hoping to have the bonus of a nice pic ). I admire those who can resist - and I should have been able to, as in my area the midwives do seem to check the heartbeat with a doppler at your regular appointments and I'd only had that done a few days before the scan!

Ah well, what's done is done now. Thanks again everyone for all your help, it's been both interesting and reassuring reading your stories .

OP posts:

Confused521 · 10/12/2021 21:06

11 weeks
14 weeks
20 weeks
30 weeks (GAP scan post covid)

Was offered 4 more but declined them.

Unicornflakegirl · 10/12/2021 21:25

@Thinking2041

In many other countries they have a scan a month.

Yes, in Spain, pretty standard to have one at each appointment and the appointments get closer together as pregnancy progress, I'd estimate 12-16 ultrasounds.

Katieandthekids · 10/12/2021 21:38

I had a high risk twin pregnancy (shared placenta) and had to have scans every two weeks from 12 weeks until they were born at 36 weeks. I have two healthy two year old vibrant little girls x

Swelteringinthesnow · 05/01/2022 04:50

I had my kids in the 90s and 2016. I never had a single scan with any of them . I was told there was no need. I don't know anyone who has heard of 12 week or 20 week either. I'm guessing it depends on where you are.

Swelteringinthesnow · 05/01/2022 04:52

My niece is a senior midwife in Hertfordshire who also says they're not necessary by the way.

Original poster

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 05/01/2022 20:27

Just to update my thread in case anyone finds it in future - in the end I did have the 3D/4D re-scan today, a month after my first. Thankfully a shorter scan this time, as I insisted I just wanted a quick check and not to continue if he wasn't in the right position - but today he was. Incidentally I did get much better photos this time , despite being 30 weeks now with an anterior placenta!

But the main reason I went was that I just wanted to see him again as I've been diagnosed with GD a few days ago and he's also recently moving about a lot more, so I was a bit paranoid that everything was okay. I was slightly panicky waiting for my next "proper" NHS scan - although to be fair it was supposed to not be for another two weeks (when I booked this private re-scan), but they've now brought the NHS one forward due to their medical concerns, which is typical for me! I just have to hope having only a weeks gap between scans is safe/okay.

Still seems to be mixed opinions on having extra "non essential" scans, but I'll apparently be having a lot more scans in future solely for medical reasons, so again, I'll just have to hope that most people are correct when they say they do no harm!

Thanks again everyone for all the help and reassurance

OP posts:

Lacedwithgrace · 05/01/2022 20:36

I had 15+ (high risk of stillbirth) so another scan wouldn't concern me at all. If you feel uncomfortable with the idea, you don't have to do it right now, you could get a 3d/4d scan later x

MintyGreenDream · 05/01/2022 20:40

7 weeks,10,12,15,18,20,24,28,32 34 so 10 in total.
The baby was fine but I experienced a lot of pain during pregnancy and they were brilliant in monitoring me

Chanel05 · 06/01/2022 10:24

I had two NHS and four private scans.

CoalCraft · 06/01/2022 13:45

With DC1, four - two early on at epu due to bleeding, then the normal 12 week and 20 week scans.

I'm 7+1 in my current pregnancy and so far, one, again at epu due to bleeding. I'm hoping to keep it to three in total but it may be more as I'm at high risk of a prem birth.

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